EVM debate: There is no question of going back to paper ballots, says Congress leader Veerappa Moily

The former UPA minister said only 'defeatist' people blame EVMs for their electoral loss.

Senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily on Wednesday criticised his party for demanding that the use of Electronic Voting Machines be stopped and asking for ballot papers to be reintroduced in upcoming elections. "We can have a committee to look into the issues of EVMs, but there is no question of going back to manual methods," he told .

The former Union petroleum minister said EVMs were introduced during his tenure in the United Progressive Alliance. "Among all countries, our electoral system is the best and for that the



credit should go to the UPA and the Congress," Moily added . The minister called for a meeting with the Opposition leaders to discuss the matter on Wednesday.

Moily further criticised the Congress for joining the "chorus started by regional parties" blaming the EVMs for their recent electoral defeats. "EVM is not the reason. Just because you are defeated? Only the defeatist people will blame EVMs, otherwise there is no point," he told The Times of India. The minister said senior party leaders were not consulted before the Congress joined hands with the Opposition parties in approaching the Election Commission.